SOLAN– The VVIP priest (Baba) Amardev at the Shri RamLok Mandir in Rurra village of Tundal Panchayat in Kandaghat, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh is again in controversy. The so called ‘Baba Amardev’, the incharge of the temple, who enjoys high profile connections with HP Government’s cabinet ministers, police officers, and administrative officers, reportedly inflicted serious injuries to a 52-years-old woman with a sword during arguments. The woman received over 14 stitches on her back. As per reports, one of her arms was also fractured. The villagers thrashed the priest after seeing the woman bleeding. The villagers of Bisha, Basha, Tundal and Sakori panchayat have opened the front against the priest after he was reportedly given VVIP treatment by the police instead of arresting him.

Photo: Dainik Bhaskar

Solan police has registered a case under Section 324 of the IPC for causing grievous hurt. The villagers expressed their anger for not charging him under attempt to murder (IPC 307). Police has reportedly booked villagers under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 323 of the IPC on the complaint of Amardev. The priest justified that he attacked in self-defense.

Villagers on Thursday protest in front of the DC office and warned to block Kandaghat-Chail Road on May 2, 2017 if proper action isn’t taken against the priest. Villagers also approached the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh with a request to throw the priest out and hand over the temple affairs to panchayat.

With Cabinet Minister/File Photo

Amardev Controversies and Political Patronage

Photo: Punjab Kesari

In April, 2016, CID had recovered four leopard skins from the temple premises. The priest was arrested but released within no time reportedly using his high profile connections. In December 2016, Amardev was seen on TV channel threatening to behead journalists if they dared to write against the temple or him. One of the cabinet ministers was also standing by the priest while he was threatening media

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The journalist community approached the district police department and asked it to take action against such undemocratic act. However, no one touched the priest. On April 19, district administration of Solan had issued a notice to Shri Ramlok temple committee for encroaching 2.6 Bigha government land. Notice to evict the encroachment and demolition of an illegal structure was also pasted on the wall by the Revenue Department.

The police treat him like VVIP and administrative officers remain keen to kneel at his feet. These cabinet ministers and the Congress government were overwhelmed with respect to Amardev for establishment of Ramlok Mandir. In the video clips, the ministers can be seen politicizing the construction of temple in Himachal by referring it to be a proud moment for the state. Mr. Bharmauri, on one such occasion, had even compared the temple with Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya (Video). He had said that some political parties talk of building Ram Mandir but didn’t deliver. However, he said, Amardev has done it in Himachal.

Reportedly, the idols worth approximately Rs. 25 crore have already been installed in the temple. Recently, in April, 2017, more idols were installed, and the ceremony was duly attended by some cabinet ministers. The temple feature idols of Lord Ram and family that are made of asthdhatu and are over 10 feet in height. The villagers also demand inquiry regarding source of such huge investment in the temple. People allege also alleged regular illegal felling of trees. The villagers have already reported the matter to the administration.

The construction of the temple is reportedly being carried out in an illegal manner on a piece of 19 Bisva land (खसरा नम्बर 371/366/321) that was allotted to the Panchayati Raj Department in 2015 for construction of a community building. But instead of community hall, Amardev constructed the temple and also encroached upon the adjacent government land. When the locals complained regarding the matter to administration, the government tried to facilitate the construction by changing land use, which is legally prohibited. Shockingly, the Deputy Commissioner, Solan, in a report to the government, had clearly mentioned that if the land was transferred, the possibility of encroachment on 60 Bigha government land in vicinity would increase. Despite that cabinet ministers ignored the report submitted by the DC and proposed change in the land use and land transfer in legislative assembly.

Taking advantage of religious sentiments, the priest has even influenced cabinet ministers and high rank officials. Despite clear notices last year from the Tehsil and report from the DC, Solan over encroachment and illegal construction on the government land, the illegal affairs continue. Is it OK to encourage illegal activities and criminal behavior on the name of religious sentiments or temples?

Madan has studied English Literature and Journalism from HP University and lives in Shimla. He is an amateur photographer and has been writing on topics ranging from environmental, socio-economic, development programs, education, eco-tourism, eco-friendly lifestyle and to green technologies for over 7 years now. He has an inclination for all things green, wonderful and loves to live in solitude. When not writing, he can be seen wandering, trying to capture world around him in his DSLR lens.

Shimla– Two students of the Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture, Nauni, in Solan district, were suspended following a complaint that these students were allegedly supporting the most dreadful suicide bombing in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019.

The local police, following the complaint, detained both
students, who hail from J&K. A local court sent them to a three-day remand,
the district police confirmed.

As a case has been registered by the police against the two students of Jammu and Kashmir. The Deans of respective Colleges in which they were studying i.e. College of Forestry and College of Horticulture have on Monday suspended them,

a university official told Himachal Watcher, confirming the report.

Additional SP (ASP) Shiv Kumar Sharma also confirmed the
news and identified two students as Peer Jada Tabish, a student of MSc first
year, and Auqib Rasool, a BSc student. As per the SP, the action came following
a complaint from the university authorities.

Reportedly, students of the university carried out a rally
demanding the suspension of the students while shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
An FIR was registered under Section 153 B
(imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 34 (acts done
by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of
the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the two students.

On Saturday, local police had detained a Kashmiri student of
Chitkara University, Baddi, over alleged comments on social media, supporting
the suicide bomber.

The police department has reportedly asked all the
universities to provide a list of all Kashmiri students enrolled in their
respective institutes.

On Tuesday, as per a report by News 18, a scuffle was reported between two groups of students at Abhilashi Memorial Institute of Engineering and Technology in Mandi district. An unverified video of the scuffle was in circulation on social media sites. However, the police did not verify it as communal in nature. It was said to be just random groups of students, who might have clashed over their previous grudges.

Another news report said a panchayat in Mandi district has passed a resolution and asked Kashmiri citizens living in rented quarters to leave the panchayat. Some miscreants also pelted stones on their quarters. The Superintendent of Police, Mandi, Gurudev Sharma, however, said there was no injury or damage to private property and Kashmiris were safe. Afraid after the stone pelting, they took shelter at police station Baldwara.

Similarly, there were reports from other States where some
Kashmiri students were held for either supporting the terrorist attack,
anti-national activities, or posting communally inciting posts/comments on
social media. Such incidents are working
as a double-edged sword – infuriating the majority, as well as, making all
Kashmiri students vulnerable to violence.

As a result, other Kashmiri students in other parts are also
facing widespread backlash. Reports said Kashmiri students were leaving hostels
to return to their homes.

As per The Hindu, over 300 students were said to have arrived at Jammu and Delhi to return to their homes in J&K after facing back-lash, especially from right wing groups. The report also quoted Kashmiri students alleging of receiving threats from right-wing outfits.

Another report on The Hindu said that some local youth raised slogans against Kashmiri students studying in an engineering college in Panipat with a demand to expel them from the institute.

Regardless of the need of the hour, a large number of
Kashmiri students enrolled in other States of India has come under the scanner
of right-wing outfits.

A sort of communal tension is growing in the society, which
is exactly what the terrorist outfits want. Harassment or boycott of Kashmiris
would only make them more susceptible to separatist agenda.

The reports also suggested that natives of the valley were
receiving warning from their landlords to evacuate their property, fearing
vandalism.

As per a report, some right-wing outfits roughed up a dozen students in Dehradun and forced the Kashmiri girls to lock themselves inside hostel rooms.

Feeding over the distress and anguish among the people over
the Pulwama massacre, the right-wing outfits are upto fueling the nationalist
agenda they had been cultivating since last five years.

Patron media channels had straightway started demanding
revenge through bigger surgical strike or a full-fledged attack on Pakistan.
Hashtags like #BadlaKab trended on Twitter.

Though the police did not confirm it, a video appeared on media websites showing a bunch of people allegedly assaulting Kashmiri labourers (Khans) in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, which also lost one of its bravehearts, Tilak Raj, in the attack.

To deal with this problem, the J&K Police has established a helpline for the assistance of students and general public who are presently staying outside the state.

In case they find any difficulty. The students are advised to call for any kind of assistance on 0194-2451515,

said J&K police advisory.

The Union Government has already issued warning to all
states to ensure safety of Kashmiri students and citizens.

The J&K administration on Monday said that the local administration
and college authorities have given full assurance about safety of the students.

The state administration is advising all the students and their parents, not to pay heed to any rumours, try to stay put at their respective places and contact the LOs or local police administration for help. The mobile numbers of LOs have already been distributed among the students,

The Union Government had defended the demonetization move by
citing it as a deterrent to terrorism in the valley. The terrorist
organizations would be financially drained, thus, rendered helpless, the
government and the leaders of the ruling party had claimed.

However, there seems to be no let up in the situation.
Terrorist activity and attacks have not declined. Instead, more encounters were
reported in 2018.

Terrorist incidents in J&K increased 177% over four years to 2018, from 222 to 614; 838 terrorists were killed over the last five years, a 134% increase from 110 in 2014 to 257 in 2018. As many as 339 security forces died–a 94% increase from 47 in 2014 to 91 in 2018–in 1,708 terrorist attacks over the five years ending 2018 in J&K,

the J&K minister of home affairs had stated in his reply in the Lok Sabha on February 5, 2019,

The fact that the suicide bomber responsible for the Pulwama
attack was a home-grown terrorist is a big reason to worry.

Stories regarding the suicide bomber suggest that while the
young boy had already been inclined towards militant groups, his bad
experiences with Indian forces or local police pushed him further to join
Jaish-e-Mohhammed – the militant group that claimed the full responsibility for
the Pulwama attack.

Negativity would only fuel negativity, which J&K cannot
afford right now. Indian Government will have to fight this war at
International level to isolate Pakistan and convince other nations to cut
supply of resources to Pakistan – a patron of these terrorist organizations.

The only way to ensure that no more lives are lost is to
break the cycle of violence. As witnessed in the past couple of decades, the
call for counter-violence has become a part of this vicious cycle. Ending
terrorism in J&K depends on the will and vision of the political leaders of
the country, and not in using defense forces to roast political cookies.

Viral Video of Overloaded Bus in Sirmaur Points at Inadequate Transportation Service

Shimla-Overloading
in private as well as the government buses in Himachal Pradesh, especially, in
interior areas has always been a hazard. Despite several bus accidents that
claim thousands of lives every year, there does not seem to be any let up in
the situation.

As per the statement made in the State Assembly
by the minister of the opposition party,
MukeshAgnihotri, over 1200 lives were lost while thousands of others sustained
injuries in various accidents across the Stateduring 2018.

While the government tries to justify itself over road accidents, a fresh picture and a video of an overloaded private bus are making rounds on the social media, raising questions over the efforts of the government to discourage overloading.

As per reports, this bus was on its way to Manva from Rajgarh in Sirmaur district on Tuesday. The bus was jam-packed and over a dozen passengers could be seen sitting on the roof of the bus. On a complaint, the local police intercepted the bus near the Forest Colony.

When the police counted passengers standing
inside the bus and those sitting on the roof, it was found that the bus was
carrying 95 passengers, excluding the driver and the conductor, against its
seating capacity of 37.

However, when the police questioned the driver
for grieve violation of traffic laws and endangering lives of the passengers,
the driver argued that it was not only his bus that was overloaded, that this
is a normal scene in all buses. The driver can be heard saying that government
buses were also overloaded.

When police told the passengers to avoid
traveling in overloaded buses, they replied that they don’t have any option,
suggesting inadequate public transportation servicesas the cause. Police
advised the people to approach their Sub-Divisional-Magistrate (SDM) to solve
any problem relating to inadequate public transportation.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rajgarh,
DushyantSarpal, confirmed that the documents of the bus have been confiscated.
He said the police has taken such actions on several occasions but the
situation doesn’t get any better.

It’s notable that pictures of such overloaded
buses keep appearing on social media. There is no dearth of examples that highlight flaunting of traffic laws and rules
defined under the Motor Vehicle Act.

The school bus accident in Nurpur in April 2018, which claimed lives of 28 persons including two dozen children, had highlighted carelessness on the part of the government. However, the government washed its hands off putting all the blame on the driver, who had also died in the same accident.

In January 2019, seven children died when their school bus met with an accident in Renuka Ji, Sirmaur district. Later, during the investigation, it was found that the bus was too old with little mechanical maintenance. A magisterial probe cited mechanical fault as the cause of the accident.

Despite being in a poor state, the
transportation authority permitted this bus to be operational. Moreover, like in the Nurpur accident, there
were no crash barriers of any sort of roadside-safety measures along that road.

He is a ‘One Man Show’ and people know him as the King of Speed. From Raid de Himalaya to Desert Storm, SJOBA Thunderbolt Rally, Arunachal Speed Fest, Dakshin Dar and many more, there is nothing that has not been written about the Motorsports champion Suresh Rana.

Born and brought up in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, Suresh Rana got a quick fascination with speed when he saw drivers running fast on the roads near his home during the budding years of Raid De Himalaya in the late 90’s. That stuck in his mind and he started running his vehicle on roads where there was less traffic.

Suresh Rana

Once he was riding in Spiti and on the way to Kaza he was spotted by the officials of Raid De Himalaya and they encouraged him to participate. It was the year 2001 when he participated in the Raid for the first time and since then there has been no looking back for him.

11 times winner of Raid de Himalaya, Rana is a power-packed member of the team Maruti Motorsports since 2009. When he started, he was a novice and the scope for learning professional motorsports was nil.

From Rana to dirt newbie: Sushant Thapa of Team Himachal Valley, is Himachal a place for budding rallyists?

Shushant Thapa

Sushant was born in Kullu and brought up in Nahan of District Sirmaur. We spotted him at the Himalayan Auto Cross Rally which happened in Kullu last month. What made us know him more was his passion and extreme driving skills that reminded us of the novice Suresh Rana of the early 2000’s.

It was for the first time he participated in any championship and he surprised us. Sushant finished his race in 1 minute 54 Seconds and stood second on the podium, which is an unexpected achievement for a beginner. He gave tough competition to experienced participants who had already participated in various national rallies including the prestigious Raid De Himalaya.

A student of legal studies from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and former football player, Sushant has represented in 17 National Football championships and 1 International under 19 Football championship in Nepal.

On his first experience in the Himalayan Auto Cross Rally, Thapa told Himachal Watcher,

Autocross is quite different from driving on road experience as there is an off road track in which you have to keep yourself safe from fouls and drive carefully on the corners and beat the speed timings of the other participants. It was my first-time experience so I had to understand each and every detail myself while driving and analyzing the race track. It was quite tough because the other participants were experienced and they had already participated in many other national level competitions.

For talented aspirants like Sushant Thapa, who are full of energy and have the passion for motorsports but are clueless on where to polish their skills, Suresh Rana has started India’s first Mountain Rally School in Kullu and has already prepared three batches since the inception of Raptors RALLY School.

The idea of the Motorsports School was to polish the skills of the aspirants, promote them and give them the training that is required to make it a career. It is definitely a costly game in which financial and family support is a must.

There are many talented youngsters in Himachal Pradesh who are capable of showing their skills and talent through a full-time career in Motorsports, however, with the lack of proper knowledge, guidance and support from the family, they leave their dreams and look for a regular job option.

Speaking to us, Suresh Rana, who believes that Motorsports can be a career option if the aspirants spend some time in improving the performance and learning the techniques said,

There are many talented youngsters but they are not able to give their time in practice. It requires time, at least five years of practice to polish the skills and Motorsports teams are always looking for young and talented people. It can be a good career option if a person starts working on it from a young age.

He further added,

Motorsports is all about techniques more than having knowledgeand speed it is a must to know the techniques to control the vehicle and understand the breaking points. There are many drivers who drive well but when it comes to driving on the off-road with seatbelt on, they just can’t do it. It is quite tough to practice without a teacher and moreover, we don’t really have places to practice however I personally encourage the aspirants to learn and practice with safety. I am always there to help.

Rana while we finished our conversation said:

Newbie Sushant Thapa can do wonders in the field of motorsports. He has the talent, he understands the breaking points and he knows how to control his speed. If trained well, he can be the new champion from Himachal Pradesh,